Censorship and the Postal Service in China during World War One

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Main author: Chen, Ling-chieh
Format: Journal Article           
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id eprints-38748
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
topic D History (General)
D501 World War I
DS Asia
description This paper focuses on the first state-organised nationwide postal censorship in China during World War I (WWI). The war had far-reaching effects on China, both in terms of the subsequent development of the internal political situation and her international relations. Although scholars share a meaningful view of China’s ‘internationalisation’ during and after WWI, the immediate impact on China is rarely discussed. One area where the war did have a significant effect was Sino-European postal communication, as this was probably the first time that mail was subjected to censorship in China. This research draws on material from the diplomatic archives to discuss how the nationwide postal censorship was established in China and how it impacted the public during the war. It argues that WWI was a crucial moment for the Chinese government in establishing a comprehensive and nationwide system of postal censorship. Censorship was a government policy for war purposes and, most of all, something that was requested by both China’s allies and enemies. This article suggests that this form of censorship during and after WWI overall reflects both that the Chinese government regarded it as a strategy to prevent information leakage, but that it was also a useful tool in domestic policy and diplomacy.
format Journal Article
author Chen, Ling-chieh
author_facet Chen, Ling-chieh
authorStr Chen, Ling-chieh
author_letter Chen, Ling-chieh
title Censorship and the Postal Service in China during World War One
publisher British Association for Chinese Studies
publishDate 2023
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/38748/

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